Walusungu Ngulube

Life is a journey and along the way we meet circumstances that continually shape who we become. One person rightly said that we are the sum total of the people we have met, books we have read and the places we have been to. If this is true then the aim of the African Union Volunteer Corps program was not just to upskill me professionally but to transform me into a young leader with a mind-set to impact my world.

You see there is something that happens within when you leave your Comfort Zone, Home, Family, Country and enter new territories. Before exchange l was proud of the fact that l had established an NGO and we were impacting the Nation, but exchange challenged me. I met young people my age who were not just impacting their nations but the world, I attended and coordinated high level forums and workshops that exposed me to international policies and processes on a whole new level. I have come out on the other end believing that there is a role I have to play in this world, what l have seen and experienced will not allow me to sleep at night and live an ordinary life no matter the challenges because it is tangible and the evidence within me can never be eroded.

No matter how much you try to explain your experience in words; people will only see the results. That is why for me exchange is not a luxury but a necessity; l encourage more young people to apply and apply for such opportunities. One of my favourite quotes says ‘an army of sheep led by a lion will defeat an army of lions led by a sheep’, that perfectly sums up the impact of exchange for me; it gave me the mindset of a leader.

I was over the moon when l got my contract to serve on the African-German Youth Initiative, under WESSA in South Africa. I have been to some parts of South Africa before and l thought l knew what to expect. My young heart was ready to spend weekends at the mall, cinemas, feasting and dining. But when l arrived at my destination in Chintsa Village; I had the shock of my life! There was no mall, l looked around wondering how l was going to survive.

Chintsa is a little village by the ocean; l like to call it a piece of heaven on Earth because here is where l learnt to hear the sound of my own voice and spend time with myself. I enjoyed reading books and taking long walks by the beach. Now am wondering how l managed living in the City. The highlight for me was learning how to surf, it’s the surprise the village had to offer because never in my mind have l ever imagined that l would be surfing in this life. It is definitely something l will be doing even after my volunteer service.

The highlight of my journey was my job, where l was constantly challenged and given opportunities. Before great women like Oprah, Sonia Gandhi, Wangari Maathai, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became the impact they are today, they started from somewhere and with someone offering them opportunities. That is why am personally grateful for my boss who continually provided platforms and opportunities for me to be exposed, challenged, trained and moulded for my future roles. I would like to encourage more people in positions of power to delegate, providing platforms for young people to start fulfilling their leadership roles today.

It has been a beautiful journey and as l come to the end of my service l realise how difficult it will be for me to part with my work and my little village. However, l am grateful for this amazing opportunity and l stand in awe of the person l have become.

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